A \ Brownfields 2004 Assessment and Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet Johnstown Redevelopment Authority, PA EPA Brownfields Program EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields Law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The Johnstown Redevelopment Authority was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant and three cleanup grants. Johnstown (population 23,906), located in southwestern Pennsylvania, has miles of landscape blighted by vacant steel manufacturing and support facilities, a legacy of the city's industrial heritage. At its peak, the town produced two million tons of steel. In 1992, when Bethlehem Steel closed its doors, over 12,000 people lost their jobs. The resulting lack of employment opportunities has led to an out-migration of Johnstown's youth and an increase in the percent of senior residents, many of whom are at risk of steel industry-related health problems. Twenty-four percent of the city's population subsists on income below the poverty level. Almost 14 percent of the population are minorities. Redevelopment plans include revitalizing the Blacksmith Shop, a National Historic Landmark, and attracting business ventures to the other two sites that will complement a multi-use development in the heart of the city. Restoration of the shop will bring additional tourism to the city and enable it to be used as a trailhead along the Urban Greenway Trail. Redevelopment of the other sites will bring new investment, new jobs, and an increased tax base to the area's lagging economy. Assessment Grant $800,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority for a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used to conduct community outreach activities and public health monitoring, perform two to three site assessments, and develop remediation and reuse plans at former steel mill sites throughout Johnstown. Cleanup Grant $800,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority for three brownfields cleanup grants. Grant funds will be used to clean up three sites on Iron Street: the Blacksmith Shop, the Electrical Storage Building, and the Cambria Iron Works Vacant Lot, all formerly part of the Bethlehem Steel Complex. Funds will be used to conduct community outreach activities, public health monitoring and education, remediation planning, cleanup, and reuse planning. Contacts For further information, including specific grant contacts, additional grant information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/brownfields). EPA Region 3 Brownfields Team (215)814-3129 EPA Region 3 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bf -lr) Grant Recipient: Johnstown Redevelopment Authority,PA (814)535-6564 The information presented in this fact sheet comes from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20450 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-04-066 June 2004 ------- accuracy of this information. The cooperative agreement for the grant has not yet been negotiated. Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. United States c Environmental anri Fmpflpn™ EPA 560-F-04-066 Protection Agency Response (5105T) June 2004 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (si us ) ------- |